Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said his opposition to the alleged third-term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo was driven by his commitment to Nigeria’s constitutional democracy and not personal hostility towards his former principal.
Mr Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, stated this while responding to Mr Obasanjo’s latest criticism of him.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Mr Atiku said the former president’s remarks were an attempt to rewrite history and diminish his role in the administration that governed Nigeria between 1999 and 2007.
He said he received Mr Obasanjo’s comments with sadness rather than anger, arguing that the former president had allowed personal resentment to influence his account of their political relationship.
Mr Atiku said the source of Mr Obasanjo’s alleged hostility towards him was well known to Nigerians, linking it to his refusal to support the reported move to amend the Constitution to allow the former president to seek another term in office.
“I am proud that I stood against the third-term agenda. I am proud that I stood by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have no apology whatsoever for frustrating every attempt to subvert our democracy for personal ambition,” he said.
“If Chief Obasanjo’s bitterness stems from my refusal to support an unconstitutional third term, then I wear that resentment as a badge of honour. No individual, regardless of his status or accomplishments, is bigger than the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The Constitution is supreme, and I chose Nigeria over personal loyalty.”
The former vice president said the resistance to the third-term agenda was not a personal battle between him and Mr Obasanjo but a struggle to preserve Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
“The Nigerian people won that battle. Democracy won that battle. History has already delivered its verdict,” he said.
Mr Atiku said it was unfortunate that Mr Obasanjo, whose alleged ambition was resisted, was now criticising those who defended the Constitution.
He also referred to recent comments by the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who, according to him, praised the economic management team of the Obasanjo administration and described it as the best Nigeria had produced.
Mr Atiku said the timing of the comments, coming shortly before Mr Obasanjo’s latest criticism, was for Nigerians to interpret.
“Whether or not the timing is merely coincidental is for Nigerians to judge. What is beyond dispute, however, is that while distinguished Nigerians who served at the highest levels continue to acknowledge my contributions to one of Nigeria’s most successful periods of economic management, Chief Obasanjo appears determined to diminish them,” he said.
“Chief Obasanjo may choose not to appreciate my role in building one of Nigeria’s most prosperous economic eras, but history has been far kinder. The record speaks for itself, and so do the testimonies of those who worked closely with that administration.”
Mr Atiku also recalled his relationship with Mr Obasanjo before the latter became president in 1999, claiming that he supported the former military ruler during his period of incarceration and contributed to his political return.
“History records that while Chief Obasanjo was in prison, I stood firmly by him. I supported his family, worked tirelessly with other patriots for his release and never wavered in my belief that he deserved his freedom,” he said.
“When he eventually regained his freedom, he had little to his name. I received him, clothed him, ensured he was properly cared for and extended every support necessary to help him regain his footing.
“Beyond that, I mobilised political structures, built alliances and made enormous personal and political sacrifices that culminated in his emergence as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Mr Atiku said he had no regrets over his support for Mr Obasanjo, adding that acts of kindness should not be undertaken with the expectation of repayment.
“Do I regret helping Chief Obasanjo? Absolutely not. When God gives you the opportunity to lift another human being, you do so without expecting repayment.”